PANIC FEARS

In “Panic Fears,” the narrator recounts three distinct episodes of terror experienced during his lifetime. The first instance unfolds on a motionless July evening as he drives to the station for newspapers. Along a secluded road, enveloped in twilight and stillness, he is struck by a haunting vision: a mysterious light flickering atop a village belfry, in a place devoid of logical explanations for such a phenomenon. Despite attempting rationalizations, a gripping fear takes hold, amplified by the desolate surroundings and the inexplicable nature of the light. This encounter leaves him with an enduring sense of unease, even after the light vanishes and he engages in mundane interactions at a posting station.

The second episode occurs late at night, amidst the serene calls of nocturnal wildlife and a misty landscape bathed in moonlight. The tranquil return from a romantic encounter is abruptly disturbed by the sudden appearance of a lone, engineless goods truck hurtling down the railway. The inexplicability of the sight sends him into a frenzied run, driven by an intense fear of the solitary vastness around him and the haunting sounds of the night. The eventual explanation provided by a signalman does little to dispel the night’s eerie impact.

The third fright involves an enigmatic encounter with a black water spaniel deep in the forest at dusk. Initially intrigued by the dog’s unexpected presence and calm demeanor, the narrator’s curiosity soon shifts to alarm as he questions the dog’s origins and its reasons for being in such a remote location. This story weaves themes of solitude, the unsettling impact of the unexplained, and the thin veil between the ordinary and the ominous. Each narrative is marked by a sudden confrontation with the inexplicable, igniting primal fears and leaving a lasting impression of vulnerability in the face of the unknown.